Combination footgear brush and scraper



1961 P. G. MATHES COMBINATION FOOTGEAR BRUSH AND SCRAPER Filed Feb. 18, 1960 INVENTOR. PAUL G. MATHES BY 7 so: I O I a FL HZ 5- 3,002,211 COMBINATION FOOTGEAR BRUSH AND SCRAPER Paul Mathes, Quincy, Ill., assignor to Trio Manufacturmg Co., Griggsville, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Feb. 18, 1960, Ser. No. 9,486 3 Claims. (Cl. -112) This invention relates in general to a combination brush and scraper for footgear and more particularly to an improved combination thereof which can be securely staked in the earth permitting a shoe or the like to be cleaned and/or brushed without manipulation of the scraper and/ or brush.

The invention is particularly useful for maintaining domestic cleanliness and neatness in areas where mud, dirt, slime or grease and the like are deposited or adhere to either or both the bottom and sides of footgear such as boots and shoes, and is subject to being brought into the home unless removed. As may be appreciated by anyone who has encountered the problemof removing such material before entering a home, a troublesome situation is created in that a person must either remove such footgear or balance himself on one leg, stoop or otherwise perform gymnastic feats in order to clean the footgear without removal thereof, and that such procedure requires either or both the fouling of the persons hands or the finding and use of a tool for cleaning the footgear and subsequent disposal of the tool.

The article incorporating the principles of the present invention has met with considerable success in overcoming these problems, by the simple provision of a fixed combination footgear scraper and brush, which may be placed in an easily accessible position and by so arranging the components that both brushing and scraping are accomplished in a reciprocating movement of the foot. To this end a pair of brushes are located in motion limiting brackets at the upper end of a pair of respective stakes which are so shaped that they may easily be driven into or removed from the earth. Mounted directly below the brushes and joining the stakes is a foot scraper which both supports the foot and aids in supporting and restraining motion of the brushes. In addition, the' stakes are also united by a horizontally. disposed bracket which is identical to the scraper both limits the depth to which the stakes are driven to an optimum level and serves as a platform therefor on the earth to prevent wobbling under the force of movement of the foot. In addition, the stakes are provided at their bottom edges with respective opposing bevels which tend to keep the stakes aligned as and after they are driven into the ground.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved combination brush and scraper arrangement for cleaning footgear.

It is another object of this invention to provide a combination footgear brush and scraper arrangement which is easily inserted into the earth, firmly supported thereon and easily removable.

It is another feature of this invention to provide a scraper bar in a combination footgear brush and scraper which is substantially identical to a horizontal support bar whereby both can be interchangeably assembled.

It is another feature of this invention to provide a combination footgear brush and scraper arrangement having a pair of brushes which are prevented from shifting position.

It is another feature of this invention to provide a horizontal support member for a pair of stakes carrying a scraper bar and a pair of brushes and to arrange the configuration of the stakes to permit the brushes and scraper bar to be securely supported in the earth.

Patented Oct. 3, 1961 Tree Still other features of this invention include the use of a horizontal bar for supporting the combination vertically and which acts as a stop to limit the depth to which the combination is mounted in the earth and the use of scraper bar to enable easier removal of the combination from the earth.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which Will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, arrangement and parts combinations hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure may be made Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of this invention, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawing a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, this invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

Referring to the drawing in which the same characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawmg:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combination footgear brush and scraper constructed in accordance with the invention and illustrating the same mounted in the eaith alongside a walk or the like.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the combination brush and scraper.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the same.

FIG. 4 is a top elevational view of the combined brush and scraper.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken through the line 5--5 of FIG. 3 and in the direction indicated; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken through the line 66 of FIG. 3 and in the direction indicated.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that the combination footgear brush and scraper generally designated by the reference character 10 comprises a pair of stakes 14 each carrying a brush 22. The brushes 22 are formed of a plurality of tufts of suitable bristle material which may be of plastic, for example, mounted in a supporter brush backing 20 in a conventional manner. The brush backings 29 in turn are securely held in place at the top of each stake 14 respectively, by means of a U-shaped bracket or support element 18 which is fastened, together with the brush holder 20, to each stake 14 by means of a screw 30 or other suitable fastening means. It will be noted that the bracket 18 partially surrounds each stake 14 and holder 20 and clamps the stake between the brush holder and itself. In this arrangement the brushes are easily removable for the purpose of either cleaning or replacement.

A scraper bar or bracket 16 is also fastened between the stakes 14. The scraper bar 16 is a U-shaped bracket whose legs are fastened by means of rivets 26, for example, to the stakes 14. The base of the U is disposed with its narrow edge facing upwards. This edge both supports the foot and performs the function of scraping the footgear as the foot is drawn over it. In addition, the corresponding edge portion of the legs of the U may locate the respective brush backings 20. A similar U- shaped bracket 12 is mounted some distance below the scraper bar 16, having legs which are similarly fastened by rivets, such as 28, between the stakes 14. In this case, however, the U-shaped bar 12 is disposed with its wide surface forming a horizontal ledge. It will be noted that the brackets 12 and 16 are interchangeable so that either can be used to perform the function of the other. This, of course, simplifies the problem of assembly and manufacture.

The stakes 14- are formed of thin elongate members which are each bevelled to a point at their bottom ends. These bevels, indicated at 36, may be at an angle of 45 and extend in opposite directions for more firmly holding these stakes in position as they are driven into the earth. In addition, each stake is provided with a substantially right angle bend 46 at its top end to aid in maintaining the position of brushes 26, the said brushes being mounted directly below the respective bends 40'.

In practice, the combination or assembly is placed in a vertical position with the bottom points of stakes 14 on top of the earth 32 adjacent a sidewalk or patio generally indicated at 34 and then driven into the earth. The driving process may be done by hand if the earth is soft enough or accomplished in any suitable manner such as foot pressure. Due to the sturdy construction and support provided by bars 12 and 16, the assembly 10 is placed in position without distorting the relationship of its components. It Will be noted that the pressure of the earth acts in opposite directions against bevels 36 during and after the driving process to aid in maintaining the stakes 14 aligned and vertical. The distance to which the earth 32 is entered is limited to an optimum level by the horizontal ledge formed by bar 12. Likewise removal of the combination 10 from the earth may be accomplished by simple lifting pressure applied to the bar 16.

Anyone in need of cleaning his footgear when, for example, stepping from the muddy ground 32 onto the sidewalk 34, preparatory to entering the home, inserts the footgear, generally indicated by shoe 24 between the brushes 22 with the bottom of the shoe adjacent the instep resting on the scraper bar '16. The foot may then be retracted to withdraw the shoe 24 while pressure is exerted against the scraper bar 16 and against one or both of the brushes 22 to thereby brush and scrape the shoe clean. The shoe 24 is shown as of somewhat smaller dimension than the area between the brushes 22; however, this distance is suitably arranged to accommodate most shoe sizes or, if desired, the brush distance may be made adjustable.

In cleaning the shoe, a great number of reciprocating movements are often necessary. This normally tends to twist or rotate the brushes 22. However, it will be noted that the brackets 18, the bend 40 and the positioning of scraper bar 16 prevent such rotation. In addition, the scraper bar 16 which supports the underside of the brush holders 20 aids in preventing the brush holders 20 from tipping after long use.

In the course of use, the foot pressure exerted against the scraper 16 causes the combination to tend to follow the reciprocating foot movement. The stakes 14 are therefore often caused to widen the aperture they have made in the earths surface and ordinarily the combination would tend to tip, but bar 12 provides wide lateral support on the horizontal surface of the earth and prevents this from occurring.

Since the brushes are confined in the locations described, only the single fastener is required to hold them in place. Replacement of brushes is a simple matter, involving only the removal of the screw and protective metal holder 18, followed by a substitution of a new brush.

It is believed that this invention, its mode of construction and assembly, and many of its advantages should be readily understood from the foregoing Without further description, and it should also be manifest that while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for illustrative purposes, the specific details are nevertheless capable of wide variation within the purview of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A footgear cleaner comprising a pair of elongate stakes each having a right angle bend facing toward each other at one end and bevelled to a point at the other end to permit said stakes to be driven into the earth, a brush mounted under each right angle bend with facing bristles, a bracket partially surrounding each stake ad jacent each brush and arranged to clamp each brush to a respective stake withoutrotation, a U-shaped bar with its legs mounted vertically between said stakes whereby the base of the U serves as a horizontal support bridge and as a stop when said stakes are driven into the earth, and a substantially identical U-shaped bar with its legs mounted parallel to and between said stakes directly beneath and restraining rotation of said brushes when footgear is reciprocated upon its horizontal edge and between said brushes for cleaning.

2. A footgear cleaner comprising a pair of elongate stakes arranged to be driven into the earth, a brush mounted adjacent the top of each stake with facing bristles, a U-shaped bracket with its legs mounted vertically between said stakes whereby the base of the U serves as a horizontal support bridge for said stakes and as a stop where said stakes are driven into the earth, and a substantially identical U-shaped bracket with its legs mounted parallel to and between said stakes directly beneath and restraining rotation of said brushes when footgear is reciprocated against its horizontal edge and between said brushes for cleaning.

3. A footgear cleaner comprising a pair of elongate stakes arranged to be driven into the earth, a brush mounted adjacent the top of each stake with facing bristles, a

U-shaped bracket with its legs mounted parallel to and References Cited in-the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Callender Nov. 20, 1917 Wiltse Aug. 18, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Dec. 17, 1914 "a. A I 

